From Pastor Judy
We are beginning a new adventure in 2012 as a congregation, an adventure discovering more of what “God with us” means. We’ll do this submitting ourselves to the “with-God life,” following Jesus through the gospel of Mark, learning better how to follow Jesus.
Mark is thought to be the earliest of the four gospels in the New Testament. Very likely Luke and Matthew had Mark’s gospel when they wrote their gospels. Both Luke and Matthew repeat much of what we find in Mark, often adding additional details. So while Mark is short, it has a terse and intense style that gives it an urgency that we will want to pay close attention to.
Mark 1:1-15, the opening verses of the gospel, give us a summary. At Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, the curtain in heaven is torn back. The Spirit descends on Jesus like a dove, and a voice from heaven says, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).
God makes a powerful, affirming statement about Jesus. And God makes that same powerful, affirming statement to each of us as we come to him. God loves us and has gone out of his way to lavish us with his grace. It is God’s pleasure to adopt us as his sons. And when we come to him, his Spirit descends on us; he comes to live in us. This is reality for the Christian.
The with-God life involves believing reality is as Jesus’ experiences it at his baptism, when heaven is torn open and heaven is exposed to earth. What is real is the glorious love of the Father for his children. May you live deeply rooted and anchored in this love, the reality that you are profoundly and dearly loved, that God is pleased with you. May that reality encourage you in whatever your situation. Repent and believe the good news.
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